Contact-maker for electrical signs.



N0."738,333. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

C. F. LANCASTER.

CONTACT MAKER FOR ELECTRICAL SIGNS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

' UNITED STATES.

Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CONTACT-MAKER FOR ELECTRICAL SIGNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO, 73S,333, dated September 8, 1903.

' Application filed October 20,1902. Serial No. 127,956. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CONRAD F. LANCASTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Liverpool, in the county of Oolumbiana and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Contact-Makers for Changeable Signs, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to contact-makers for changeable signs, and has for its object to provide an improved form of a contact-maker which can be readily adjusted for a particular sign without requiring the services of an electrician.

My invention consists of the novel forms and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Throughout the drawings like characters of reference refer to like parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective of my device. Fig. 2 is a side view of one of my cams. Fig. 3 is a similar view of another form of cam. Fig. 4 is a partly-sectional detail of my contactcup.

The numeral 1 indicates the casing for my clockwork, which it is not deemed necessary to show, as any ordinary form may be used. From the casing projects a stem 2, having its outer end threaded and provided with a nut, while a shoulder is formed near the case 1. This stem is attached to the clockwork and revolves when the same is set in motion. Disks 3, having cam portions 4. formed thereon, are held on the stem 2 between the aforesaid shoulder and nut,the latter being screwed up tightly when it is desired to prevent their movement on the stem. Opposite each one of the cam-disks is set a post 5. of clearness in the drawingsI have here shown but one of these posts; but it is obvious that there may be as many as desired. Each post carries a spring-pressed lever 6, one-end of which is in contact with its cam-disk. The opposite end of the lever carries a plunger 7, which passes through an insulating-bushing 8 into the cup 9, the latter being partly filled with mercury, as shown. It is obvious that the motion of the cam-disk will move the lever and cause the plunger to rise and fall in the cup. Both cup and plunger are made of some good electrical conductor. Aplate 10, provided with a binding-post 11, is connected with a battery 12 by means of a wire 13. The

insulated bushing 8 has a binding-post 14 For the sake mounted thereon, the end of said post contacting with the said plunger. A wire 15 leads from the binding-post 14 to the battery 12. One of these wires passes through whatever lights it is desired to affect by means of the especial cam selected. It now becomes plain that when the clockwork is in motion the cam-disks are rotated and the electric circuit is completed by the plunger dipping into the mercury. It is obvious that the circuit will remain closed as long as the lever is in contact with the cam portion of the disks. I can thus arrange the length of these portions to suit any desired exposure of light. It will also be plain that I can arrange the disks upon the stem in any desired manner and can make such changes in that arrangement as from time to time I may deem advisable without it being necessary to disturb the wiring.

It is obvious that any other source of electricity that may be convenient can be used in place of the battery here shown. It is also obvious that other changes may be made in the details of my device without affecting the general principles thereof. I do not, therefore, desire to confine myself to the exact form herein shown and described, but wish to include all such as properly come within the scope of my invention.

I have thus provided an improved form of device for the purposes specified which can be readily arranged to suit the particular conditions under which it is to be operated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I In combination with a series of rotatable disks having cam projections about their circumferences, a post 5 having a slot therein, an angle-lever pivoted at its angled portion in said slot, a'spring fastened to said post and designed to hold one end of said lever against the circumference of one of said disks, a mercury-cup, a movable plunger therein having an apertured end in which a slotted end of said lever is disposed and has a play, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CONRAD F. LANCASTER.

In presence of-- LoUIs Monsnn, M. HUNTER. 

